Army looks to recruit more crack troops

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

The Army wants to boost the number of elite soldiers in its crack special forces because of a worldwide change in the style of warfare - demonstrated in the Afghanistan war against terror.

Defence Force chief Carey Adamson said special forces had taken on new importance and were being used instead of conventional Army units.



The special forces had always needed extra resources, "but it's an area we really have to address now because intelligence is much more important now than it's ever been".



Air Marshal Adamson said the increased use of special forces, such as the SAS, was a worldwide trend.

The Army Chief of General Staff, Major-General Maurice Dodson, said it had been a struggle for the past decade to recruit enough soldiers to maintain the highly trained unit.

"We can't just put an ad in the paper. They have to be recruited internally, from within serving members of the Defence Force."

He said the force was considering how many tasks could be carried out by "non-badged" staff, and roles were being opened to women.

A second-tier, less highly trained unit was also being considered.

Opposition MPs questioned Air Marshal Adamson at a select committee yesterday about whether he agreed with a description by Prime Minister Helen Clark, based on official advice, that New Zealand existed in an "incredibly benign strategic environment".

The Prime Minister made the comments when the scrapping of the air combat wing was being discussed.

"Those are not my words," said Air Marshal Adamson.

"I think the environment has changed and it's certainly got more unstable than it has been for some time."

National's defence spokesman, Max Bradford, asked whether the change in environment meant defence policy should be revisited.

Air Marshal Adamson said changes had not been made yet but there would be more concentration on New Zealand's ability to gather, collate, analyse and disseminate intelligence.

Major-General Martyn Dunne talked about the trend towards "asymmetric warfare" - a term used by United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for the need to defend against threats ranging from biological arms to cyber-crime.

"How we're going to tackle that, the jury's still out," said General Dunne.

Green MP Keith Locke questioned the need for an increase in special forces, particularly because the war in Afghanistan was reaching the "tail end".

"There's a sort of sea change that's permanent," said Air Marshal Adamson. "Not just, once Afghanistan is fixed you go back to worrying about nukes again.

"What I'm talking about is the structure of military forces. The balance between conventional and unconventional forces is shifting."

Mr Locke asked whether New Zealand was being forced into military decisions and situations because of pressure from the US.

"I don't think New Zealand gets dragged along by anyone.

"We make our own decisions," said the air marshal.

He also explained the reasons behind the Prime Minister's refusal to discuss the deployment of the SAS to Afghanistan.

He said special forces carried out deep reconnaissance and if countries knew soldiers were operating within their borders their safety could be threatened.

nzherald.co.nz/defence